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The sting in the tail—spination of the tail fan in freshwater crayfish
Richardson AMM and Swain R 
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Abstract
The uropods and telson of most freshwater crayfish are rounded and carry marginal setae, but a small number of species have terminal spines on either or both of the rami of the uropods. These species seem to occur haphazardly, but in clusters, among the taxonomic groups and there do not appear to be any common factors in their ecology, apart from the fact that they are all burrowing, rather than open water, species. The range of uropod forms is described, and their possible functions are discussed. The hypotheses proposed for the function of terminally-spined uropods are that they are either cleaning structures or a means of gaining purchase for the tail flip in enclosed or water-free situations.
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Richardson AMM and Swain R. (2002). The sting in the tail—spination of the tail fan in freshwater crayfish. Freshwater Crayfish 13(1):515-524. doi:
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